Lourenço Botelho
Clinical Psychologist
I work with introspective adults who struggle with attachment wounds and relational patterns, helping them achieve emotional integration, and healthier relationships through depth-oriented experiential therapy.
I specialise in:
About me
I'm a clinical psychologist with over five years of experience. I came to this work through a personal search for how to live well, exploring Eastern philosophy, meditation, and martial arts before discovering that psychology was the language I needed.
I'm half Portuguese and half Brazilian. Growing up between two cultures taught me something important about identity: you don't have to be entirely defined by where you come from or what's expected of you. You can build your identity from the people around you, from philosophy and art, from your relationships and passions, whatever feels genuinely yours. This lived experience shapes how I work with people who are figuring out who they are beneath the expectations placed on them.
I speak:
Location:
Approach
I help young adults and adults work through attachment wounds, shame, and relational patterns so they can develop greater self-trust, emotional freedom, and the capacity for meaningful, fulfilling relationships. My approach is depth-oriented and experiential, integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) with somatic and emotional processing to support lasting, meaningful change. In practice, that means I'm less focused on which approach to use and more focused on what's actually happening for you in the room. What matters most is finding a way of working that feels natural to us both.
Most of us arrive at therapy with a clear sense that something isn't working, often with some clarity about why, but less so about how to work with it or create change. That's usually where we start.
Sessions begin with open exploration, giving whatever you're concerned with room to surface. I'll reflect back what I'm hearing, ask what feels most worth exploring, and follow your lead. Once we find that thread, we slow down, moving from talking about your experience to actually feeling into it, in a way that connects to your story emotionally, not just intellectually. From there, we'll work to unlock the constraints put onto you from the past and develop whatever tools you might need for the future. There's no agenda for who you should be or where you should arrive.
Wherever you find yourself today is a fine place to start.
Experience
Private Psychological Practice (2025 - ongoing)
Espaço Existência: Clinical Psychologist (2021 – ongoing)
- Working with diverse clients as part of an integrative psychotherapy team
- Supporting clients with relationships, identity, trauma, and personal growth (+2000 hours)
Nova FCT: Psychological Support Department (2020–2021)
- Clinical practice with university student clients under psychodynamic supervision
Therapeutic Approach & Skills:
- Internal Family Systems (IFS), Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy, Schema Therapy, psychodynamic principles
- Practical, hands-on, and integrative approach tailored to each client’s needs
Education
Master’s in Clinical Psychology, ISPA, Instituto Universitário (2019–2021)
- Specialized in psychodynamic approaches
- Dissertation on master therapists and their approach
- Supervised clinical experience with university student clients
Bachelor’s in Psychology, ISPA, Instituto Universitário (2017–2019)
- Foundation in psychological theory, research, and applied practice
Advanced Trainings & Workshops:
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1 – Dr. Alexia Rothman Ph.D & Carolina Abreu
- Focusing-Oriented Psychotherapy (advanced workshops, ongoing)
- Schema Therapy – Chris Hayes & Dr. Rob Brockman
- IFS Immersions – Dr. Frank Anderson & Dr. Richard Schwartz
- ADHD Assessment & Intervention
Services
Intro Call
Individual Session
Insurances
